Yahoo may poach popular YouTubers and start its own video site

Reportedly there is a cunning plan in works to get a fast start.

Yahoo is planning on creating its own version of YouTube, and is "cherry-picking" YouTube stars to infuse the new site with content, according to a report Friday from Recode. The site would be the culmination of both Yahoo's ongoing attempts to get involved with video content, and CEO Marissa Mayer's interest in doing so.

Yahoo attempted to buy a stake in the French video site DailyMotion in spring 2013, but the transaction was blocked by the French government. Failing to acquire a platform, Yahoo has reportedly decided to roll its own.

Per the Recode report, Yahoo is not only starting a new dedicated video site, but doing some heavy lifting to make sure it will have users. The company has a plan to lure some of YouTube's more popular users, "big networks," and the audiences that come with them "either by improving the ad revenue or by offering guaranteed ad rates for their videos." Yahoo would also offer certain users paid promotion to Yahoo's front page.

It's not a small business to go after: YouTube's ad revenue was reportedly on the order of $5.6 billion in 2013, and its biggest stars, including The Lonely Island,RealAnnoyingOrange, and JennaMarbles, are likely millionaires.

Recode reports that Yahoo aims to launch the service within the next few months.